The affairs of this Company were once in so very flourishing
a condition, that it was considered as even superior
to their East India Company. This prosperity
was chiefly owing, to the happy success of their affairs
at sea; as their admiral, Peter Haines, in the 1629,
captured the Spanish plate fleet, laden with immense
riches. They at one time made themselves masters
of the greatest part of Brazil; and were so considerable
that the great Count Maurice of Nassau did not think
it beneath him to accept a commission from this Company
as Governor-General of Brazil; which country, however,
after it had cost them immense sums to defend, they
at length lost. The term of their charter, originally
limited to twenty-four years, expired in 1647, and
was then renewed for other twenty-five years.
During this second period, their affairs became so
perplexed, so that the Company was dissolved towards
the close of that term, with its own consent.

In 1674, a new company was erected, by letters patent
from the States-General, with nearly the same powers
and privileges, which has subsisted ever since with
great reputation.[2] The capital of this new company
consisted of six millions of florins, which are equal
to 545,454l. 10s. 10d. 10-11ths sterling. And
the limits of their authority are the western coast
of Africa and both coasts of America, all the establishments
of the Dutch in these countries being under their
authority, so that any one who proposes a new scheme
of commerce in those parts, must necessarily apply
himself to that company. Under these circumstances,
a Mr Roggewein, a person of parts and enterprize,
formed a project for the discovery of the vast continent
and numerous islands, supposed to be in the southern
part of the globe, under the name of Terra Australis
Incognita, of which the world had hitherto only
very imperfect notices from others; which project,
with a plan for carrying the discovery into execution,
they presented to the Dutch East India Company[3]
in 1696, by which it was favourably received, and
he was assured of receiving all the assistance and
support he could desire or expect, as soon as the
affairs of the Company would permit. But the
disturbances which soon afterwards followed put a stop
to the good intentions of the Company; and Mr Roggewein
died before any thing could be done. Mr Roggewein
was a gentleman of the province of Zealand, who had
addicted himself from his youth to mathematical studies,
and we have reason to suppose recommended his projected
discovery on his death-bed to his son.

[Footnote 2: This refers to the year 1743, when
Harris wrote: It is hardly necessary to say,
that Holland and its great commercial companies are
now merely matters of history.—­E.]

[Footnote 3: From what goes both before and after,
this seems a mistake for the West India Company.—­E.]